Prison Rape: An American Institution?: An American Institution?

Rape is a fact of life for the incarcerated. Can American society maintain the commitment expressed in recent federal legislation to eliminate the rampant and costly sexual abuse that has been institutionalized into its system of incarceration?

Overview

Rape is a fact of life for the incarcerated. Can American society maintain the commitment expressed in recent federal legislation to eliminate the rampant and costly sexual abuse that has been institutionalized into its system of incarceration?

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What People are Saying About This

Cindy Struckman-Johnson

"With singular clarity, Michael Singer reviews the Department of Justice's efforts to bring about desperately needed reforms to address prison rape in American prisons. He is similarly adept in reviewing prisoners' constitutional protections and legal obstacles in seeking redress for prison rape. Throughout the book, Singer interweaves the documented testimony of men and women who have experienced prison rape.

The book leads up to an elucidation of the national standards to eliminate prison rape released by the US attorney general in 2012. While praising the content of these standards, Singer raises disturbing concerns about the DOJ's true commitment to ending prison rape.

This book is a must-read for those in the public, corrections, the legal system, human rights, and academe who desire to bring an end to rape in American prisons."

Bryan A. Stevenson

"This is an outstanding work that illuminates a terrifying problem in American jails and prisons that merits more attention and discussion that this well-researched book finally provides."

Mary Sigler

"Michael Singer has produced an essential primer on prison rape in the United States, exploring the empirical, legal, and socio-cultural dimensions of the phenomenon. He elegantly combines technical detail with the human element, moving seamlessly between the social science research that documents the magnitude of the problem and the heartbreaking stories of individual victims that underscore its urgency. In a country that prides itself on its commitment to justice, Singer suggests, the persistence of prison rape is an ongoing source of national shame. This accessible account is an invaluable resource for scholars, policy makers, and anyone interested in prison reform."